I. On December 18, 2009 the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ("ICSID" or the "Centre"), received a request for arbitration (the "Request") from Corporaci6n Quiport S.A. and others (refelTcd to as the "Claimants") against the Republic of Ecuador (also refelTed to as the "Respondent").

2. On December 18, 2009, the Centre acknowledged receipt of the Request in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for the Institution of Conciliation and Arbitration Proceedings ("Institution Rules") and, on the same date, transmitted a copy to the Respondent.

3. The Secretary-General of the Centre registered the Request on December 30, 2009, in accordance with Alticle 36(3) of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States (the "ICSID Convention") and Rules 6(1)(a) and 7(a) of the Institution Rules. The SecretaryGeneral further invited the Parties to constitute the tribunal as soon as possible in accordance with Rule 7 of the Institution Rules and Articles 37 to 40 of the ICSID Convention.

4. On January II, 2010, the Parties informed the Centre of their participation in negotiations related to the present proceeding. Additionally, the Parties requested that "the Centre immediately suspend the proceeding until such time as one of the parties may seek to reactivate the proceedings". On January 19,2009, the Centre took note of the Parties' agreement to suspend.